Raiders offense: Ameer Abdullah is old reliable at running back

Veteran provides both inspiration and production and can be a key cog against New Orleans Saints

The term utility player may be more apt for baseball, however, Ameer Abdullah fits the bill to a tee.

Whether it’s running back, pass protector, receiver, or special teamer, whenever the veterans is called upon by the Las Vegas Raiders, he simply performs. The old reliable on offense and special teams the 31-year-old is both mentor, example, and paragon of longevity in the NFL.

Taken in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the 54th overall player selected may not be as fast as he once was, but he’s legs still have plenty of spring to make plays. Take the Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, for example. Abdullah churned out 38 yards and a touchdown on seven carries to go along with five receptions for 47 yards. He also fielded two punts for 28 yards (a long return of 19 yards) and had 10 total special teams snaps, on top of the 32 snaps on offense (43 percent of the group’s total).

“Yeah, he’s a true pro,” Raiders interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner began when asked about Abdullah during media availability this week. “He would always joke around with me and say, Breakfast Club. Like he would see me in the morning working out and he’s always in there first thing in the morning. This goes back to last year. He takes care of his body. I mean, when you get older in this league, and especially at that position, you got to have a detailed routine to take care of your body, and he does that. And he didn’t complain. He’s frustrated probably early in the year that he wasn’t getting many opportunities, and as soon as he got some, he took advantage of it in the run game and in the pass game. He came up huge for us.”

The 5-foot-9 and 203-pound tailback may not be the biggest, but he contributes in a big way to the Silver & Black.

All told, Abdullah’s 2024 contributions read: 196 yards and two touchdowns on 46 carries (4.3 yards average per carry), 229 yards and three touchdowns on 37 receptions, nine kick returns for 296 yards (a long of 68 yards), nine punt returns for 87 yards (long of 19), and four special teams tackles.

“Well, one, look at how he takes care of his body. He’s 30 plus years old,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said of Abdullah, echoing Turner on the running back. “He’s one of the quicker running backs we have in our room. You can put him in on early downs, you can put him in third down and actual protection, and obviously get him out there in the routes. And then, hell, he’s out there on special teams.

“So, what I think it shows a lot of our guys, as your career goes on, you got to find your way, right? And you might become a Swiss army knife, which that’s what he is for us right now. And you might have a role this way as a rookie, and then third year goes this, and you never know in your career how it goes. Everybody’s career is different, but I think he’s a great example of somebody that’s kind of bounced around with some teams, and he’s found his niche here.”

With the running back room’s production a roller coaster with more valleys than peaks, don’t be surprised to see Abdullah lead the backfield in overall production this coming Sunday when Las Vegas (3-12 overall) hits the road to take on the New Orleans Saints (5-10).

The Saints defense is ranked 30th in yards allowed (5,676 total) and 17th in points allowed at 346 total, and the group is susceptible against both the run and pass. New Orleans’ defense has yielded 3,607 passing yards (28th) and 2,069 rushing yards (30th). If there’s a game for Las Vegas to jumpstart a sagging ground game (32nd in yards gained at 1,162), it’s against the Saints.

New Orleans, however, has to be seething as they became the only team this season to get shut out — 34-0 by the Green Bay Packers this past Monday night.

Series History: The Raiders and Saints have met 15 times all-time and it’s a series that’s knotted up 7-7-1. The last time the two teams squared off, New Orleans blanked Las Vegas in a 24-0 victory back in 2022. Before that, Las Vegas and the Oakland variant won the 2020 and 2016 matchups 34-24 and 35-34, respectively. The longest streaks were a three-game win streak by the Raiders in 1975, 1979, and 1985 while the Saints rattled off three-straight wins in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

Quote of Note:

“He doesn’t really say much. And I mean it’s really good, and I’m sure like as his career goes on, he’ll be a little bit more like, ‘Hey, I can beat him on this route,’ or whatever, but no I’ve talked to him after games like, ‘Man, I’ve got to move you around more. We’ve got to get you the ball more, and he’s like, ‘Coach, I just want to win.’ And I’m just like, ‘Alright.’ He doesn’t complain about it, like he always just puts it on himself, like how can he be better to get more open. But no, he doesn’t say much unless I go talk to him.” —Las Vegas Raiders interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner on rookie tight end Brock Bowers